venice with a 14 yaer old and a 11 year old. Any recommendations?

[margonbread]

We are going in about 10 days time and have booked the Hotel Lux (MN recommendation) and are now getting down to the finer details of eating out and things to see.

I have trawled the threads and have some ideas but many of the threads are old and, also, are more relevant to those with younger DC.

So any ideas would be greatly appreciated?

We arrive mid-morning and haven't booked any transport from the airport ...do you think we ought to?

We would like to order a book but I can't seem to find the book suggested on here. Amazon just comes up with

these here

Would anyone recommend one?

Thank you

Hi. You can get water txis or buses from marco Polo - just come out of the airport and follow the signs to your left and it's about 5 mins walk. Water buses take longer but are much cheaper than taxis (motor boats).

I've taken my dc to venice the last 2 years bt e only did day trips. Everywhere we at as great but even if I tried to remember the names of the restuarants you'd probably never find them! The cheapest way to do the gondola is to go on a vaparetto and go across the Grand canal. A proper gondola ride will cost about 80e - at least that's what it was last summer.
One of the best views of St mark's we got was from the op of a church tower on the island of San georgio (?) whic is directly opposite St mark's. get the water bus across to it and the you pay a few euros to o to the top of the tower - the views are amazing. My dd loved feeding the pigeons in St mark's but ds woldn't go near them!
I think Rosa on here lives in venice - she gave me loads of great advice. I think there was a "venice for kids" book she recommended - think it might have been he DK one.
My dc loved Murano and watched the glassblowers for ages.
Anyway have a fantastic time!

Seen this and bookmarked will be back later......

Thanks Rosa ... and Leslaki

See what I can come up with before I get moved off .....
The Lux s by San Marco so the mose reasonable form of transport to get there is the Alilaguna. It has its own web site and journey time is about an hour but there are the odd faster ones. Buy tickets in the airport to the right as you clear customs.
If you want a faster arrival then a water taxi is for you but it costs more in the region of Eu100 ..If you want one let me know !
It is a a short walk from the Alilaguna stop to the Calle delle Rasse - its easy to find. A water taxi can bring you a bit nearer.
The book Venice for Kids is probably good for the 11 yr old but might be a big young for the older one. I haven't looked at books for years but used to find that the DK or 'eyewitness' guides used to be good.
Eating out in that area can be a bit high so do check menus before going in and don't be fooled by waiters outside trying to persuade you to come in especially ones next to displays of fish !
MUrano as said is fun always lots of glass blowing going on . Climbing up San Giorgio Maggiore is also good fun. Head over to San Trovaso and see the only gondola making place in Venice ..You can se eit from the canal. The fish market. If you can't run to a gondola do a few traghetti they are fun especially as you should stand up.
Let me know if you want to know anything specific and if I don't see your post then come over to L Italy !

Thank you

I will have a good read and shout if I need further advice.

Thanks again

Oh I am confused...
If we buy Venice Connected card will this include the trip from the airport to centre or will we need to buy an Alilaguna ticket too.

Can we get a Venice connected card at the airport - we have left it too late to buy online?

Is it worth paying for the toilet and museum pass? How much are loos without the pass?

I think I ought to have been planning this a few weeks ago but I have been sooo busy and stressed at work!

I hope Rosa sees this as we are leaving very early on Tuesday morning.
Why did I not look at this earlier???

Yes you can use Venice Connected on ALilaguna and you can buy them at the airport - I think they cost a bit more though. The Pass means you can get into some museums and also use of the loos. I think the loo is now a Euro a go. BUt of you go into a bar and have a coffee or something then you can use them. Make sure you all go everytime you go into a museum !!!!
Can't find the prices for the passes on the site though ..... I don't use the thing as I have a vaporetto pass and thats all I need.....
Forecast is a bit touch and go - its spring today not sure itw ill last however !!!

Thanks Rosa.

Yes, it looks like it is going to rain all week, so perhaps the museum pass would be a good deal. Hmm... how many shoes to take???

Mind you as you have to buy in advance I would just buy as you go along as you won't get any discounts now - The ALilaguna you can purcahse when you get the card if you wish ...It is a kind of shopping trolley you add in what you want .
So teh transport is one thing, museums another , alilaguna another etc etc
Shoes comfy ones - Trainers and soft soles. Hard soles hurt the feet even flat ballerinas as Venice has no 'give' in the pavements and after a while it hurts !

Hi

we are back and had a lovely time.

The Lux was so well positioned. We found 2 places to eat on the Calle de Rossa .. a little coffee bar (for coffee stops lots of times and lunch one day) that was always full of gondaliers. Then on the same side a restaurant called La Gondola; was actually the type you mentioned - waiter outside with his fish display, but the tourist menu was excellent and included free drinks! The first time we ate there we had one drink each (well a carafe of red for DH and I) the second time we asked for more drinks and really expected to pay steeply for them to compensate for the free ones but NO they were also included!!

We used the alilaguna to get back from/to the airport. Then waterbuses ...we bought 72 hour passes. But we walked a lot too and my 'good old faithful' shoes were perfect.

We went to Burano which was a real hit with the kids, then onto Murano.

We did the traghetto a few times but not a gondola although we watched them lots!

We went up the Bell Tower which was fantastic but very cold and windy.
We went to the fish market and to 2 squares recommended as the prettiest in Venice - Campo Santo Stephano and Campo san Barnaba.

In the end we had a few books but the one we used the most wwas this one which was very simpe but had enough detail and we ddin't need an extra map as altho' small we managed to walk everywhere using the one in the book.

Thanks for your help Rosa. BTW ..which area do you live in?

I live up by the Guglie bridge in Cannaregio. So glad you had a good time and the weather was nice for you as well..........

Hi ROSA.
I am going to Venice in July with my partner (who has an aprtment on Guidecca) and 9 yr old ds.
Do you have children ROSA ?
Are British? and are you still living in Venice through the summer. ??

Sorry about all the questions... have seen your profile now and all the wiser. !! lol